10,000 Ford Volunteers unite for their communities

10,000 Ford Volunteers unite for their communities during Eighth Annual Ford Global Week of Caring

· Ford Volunteer Corps has enlisted more than 10,000 Ford employees, retirees and dealers in more than two dozen countries for eighth annual Ford Global Week of Caring

· More than $290,000 in grants worldwide help support community service projects, including new initiatives in Europe and the Asia Pacific region

· In New Zealand, Ford volunteers are taking part in the Variety Mini-Bash from 20 to 22 September and also helping Weymouth Primary School with several grounds keeping projects.

13 September 2013 – About 10,000 members of the Ford Volunteer Corps have joined together to tackle more than 200 projects on six continents during the eighth annual Ford Global Week of Caring.

The Ford Volunteer Corps is out in force from China to New Zealand and from Europe to the Americas in mid-September. Ford Global Week of Caring is the highlight of a year-round global campaign to flex the volunteer muscle of Ford employees, retirees and dealers.

Ford employee volunteers are undertaking a wide variety of projects around the world. These projects include building temporary shelters for homeless children in China, renovating a community youth centre in Germany, providing clean drinking water facilities in disadvantaged parts of India and South Africa, and participating in environmental restoration activities in Australia.

In the U.S., Ford employees in 16 states are building homes, rehabilitating shelters, feeding the hungry, planting urban vegetable gardens, and assisting military veterans including sponsoring an Honour Flight for World War II veterans from Kansas City to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In New Zealand, Ford’s True Blue team takes to the road in the Variety Mini-Bash from 20 to 22 September. The Ford Volunteer Corps is also helping out at one of the Mini-Bash destinations on the 20th -- Weymouth Primary School. At the school, the Ford team will be swapping their office attire for gardening gear and helping the school with several grounds keeping projects.

“Ford employees tell us they’re thankful to work for a company that encourages and supports their desire to make a difference in their communities,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “It is gratifying to see how our Ford employees are eager to jump in, and the impact of their contributions.”

Non-profit organisations in Europe and the Asia Pacific and Africa region will share more than $200,000 in grants for their projects. Ford Motor Company Fund also is contributing more than $90,000 to support the U.S.-based activities.

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